International Journal of Society and Law
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): April 2026

Rethinking Policyholder Rights in Mutual Insurance Enterprises

Angel Firstia Kresna (Indonesian Supreme Court)
Dewa Gede Giri Santosa (Indonesian Supreme Court)



Article Info

Publish Date
03 Apr 2026

Abstract

Mutual insurance companies in Indonesia operate under a unique legal structure that is fundamentally different from shareholder-based insurance corporations. Rather than acting merely as consumers, policyholders in these organizations collectively serve as co-owners. This study analyzes the legal characteristics of mutual insurance enterprises and examines the implications of this dual status and contractual rights arising from insurance policies. Employing a normative legal methodology, this research uses statutory and case approaches to analyze key regulations, including Law No. 40 of 2014 on Insurance, Government Regulation No. 87 of 2019, and Financial Services Authority Regulation No. 7 of 2023, along with several Supreme Court decisions concerning disputes involving AJB Bumiputera 1912. The findings indicate that the mutual structure creates policyholders within a complex, dual legal relationship. Recent judicial interpretations tend to prioritize the mutuality principle by rejecting breach of contract claims against the enterprise itself and instead directing liability toward management through tort-based claims. While this approach reinforces the conceptual nature of mutual enterprises, it raises serious concerns about the practical effectiveness of legal protection for policyholders. The study concludes that the current normative ambiguity regarding the legal status of policyholders requires a more balanced framework that harmonizes the principle of mutuality with enforceable protections for policyholders.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

IJSL

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Other

Description

International Journal of Society and Law is a journal that explores important issues in the field of law and society at the international level. This journal provides a platform for a variety of research and analysis related to the interaction between law and social dynamics in global society. ...